Bengals Defeat Jaguars in Overtime on Monday Night Football
As the NFL’s Monday Night Football spotlight shined on Jacksonville and Cincinnati, anticipation has been building up for a good matchup between these two teams. With both teams showcasing young and exciting talent, football fans were in for a treat as they tuned into this one that held the promise of prime-time excitement. If you were looking for an offensive game this one did not disappoint at all. While Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is out for the season as he is coming off of wrist surgery, backup quarterback Jake Browning looked more than capable of running this offense as he led the Bengals to this win with the help of running back Joe Mixon and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. While quarterback Trevor Lawrence did leave this game with an apparent ankle sprain, the Jaguars still have to be disappointed they weren’t able to close out a win in this one. Next week during week fourteen the Jaguars will head to Cleveland to take on the Browns and the Bengals will head back to Cincinnati to take on the Colts. Let’s take a look at how Cincinnati got this win.
The Jaguars started this game strong as running back Travis Etienne Jr. ran into the endzone at the end of their first drive for a 4-yard touchdown. This touchdown score, plus the extra point made by kicker Brandon McManus, made the score of the game 7-0 Jacksonville early. The Bengals' offense would have a rough next drive as their kicker, Evan McPherson, missed a 57-yard field goal. However, Cincinnati’s offense was able to make up for it the next time they got the football as running back Joe Mixon ran in the endzone for a 6-yard touchdown to tie the game up 7-7. Unfortunately for the Bengals, the game would not stay tied long as the Jaguars quickly scored by quarterback Trevor Lawrence connecting with tight end Evan Engram for a 22-yard touchdown to make the score of the game 14-7. Cincinnati would get the ball back and quickly tie the game up at two touchdowns a piece as Mixon ran into the endzone again, this time from two yards out, to tie the game up 14-14 as both teams headed into the locker room for halftime.
The Bengals would be the first to put points on the board in the second half as Browning released a deep ball to wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase which he caught for a 76-yard touchdown to make the score of the game 21-14 with nearly twelve minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Jaguars would tie the game up once again when they got the ball back as Lawrence found wide receiver Parker Washington open for a 14-yard touchdown to tie the game up at three touchdowns a piece. The Bengals would run an exotic play on their next drive which would end in wide receiver Tyler Boyd throwing an interception, a pass intended for Cincinnati running back Joe Mixon, into the hands of Jacksonville linebacker Josh Allen. Jacksonville’s offense was able to capitalize off of this great play by their defense and turn it into points as Lawrence ran into the endzone from the 1-yard line to make the score of the game 28-21 late in the third quarter.
A few drives later the Bengals would tie the game up for what seemed like the millionth time as Browning’s feet graced the inside of the endzone for a 1-yard touchdown to tie the game up at four touchdowns a piece. The Jaguars' next drive would be a trainwreck as Lawrence would go down with an ankle injury and half to leave the game and the drive would end with McManus missing a 48-yard field goal. The Bengals were able to capitalize off of this missed field goal by the Jaguars and make one of their own as McPherson knocked down a 54-yarder to give them the lead 31-28. Sadly, for Bengals fans, the Jaguars even without Lawrence would tie the game up one more time as backup quarterback C.J. Beathard led their offense down the field to set up a 40-yard field goal attempt for McManus. McManus would make this field goal and tie the game up 31-31 and we would soon see both teams in overtime.
Heading into overtime, without Lawrence it seemed as if all the momentum was swinging Cincinnati’s way. After the Jaguars could not score any points on their drive, the Bengals got the ball and were eventually able to set up a 48-yard field goal for McPherson with a minute and forty-five seconds remaining. Once McPherson made the field goal the game was over with a final score of 34-31 Cincinnati. While the Jaguars lost this one it was more than a normal loss as every Jacksonville supporter is asking the same question right now: Is Trevor Lawrence, okay?
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning only missed five of his pass attempts in this game, going thirty-two for thirty-seven as he passed for 354 yards and threw one touchdown. Running back Joe Mixon had nineteen carries for 68 yards and two touchdowns. Browning also had a rushing touchdown in the game. Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was easily Cincinnati’s prime target in this game as he reeled in eleven receptions for 149 yards and one touchdown. Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence only missed seven of his pass attempts in the game, going twenty-two for twenty-nine as he passed for 258 yards and threw two touchdowns. Running back Travis Etienne Jr. had finished the game with eleven carries for 45 yards and one touchdown. Lawrence also had a rushing touchdown in the game. Tight end Evan Engram led the Jaguars in receiving yards on Monday night, catching nine balls for a total of 82 yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver Parker Washington also had a receiving touchdown in the game.
